Shoe-last.



No. 7l7,342. Patented Dec. 30, 1902.

J. 0. CALDWELL &. W. L. DAMON.

S H 0 E L A S T.

(Application filed Apr. 17,. 1902.i

(No Model.)

d izn a: W WaZi'erlZ 20mm Hdiigzsses UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN O. CALDW'ELL AND IVALTER L. DAMON, OF GREENFIELD,

MASSACHUSETTS.

SHOE-LAST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 717,342, datedIDecember 30, 1902.

Application filed April 17, 1902- Serial No. 103M135. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, J OHN O. CALDWELL and WALTER L. DAMON, citizens of the United States, residing at Greenfield, in the county of Franklin and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Lasts, of which the following is a specificat-ion.

Our invention relates to shoe-lasts; and the object of the same is to construct a device of this character provided with means for securely holding it in place in the shoe, which means will also permit the device to be contracted in introducing it into a shoe.

The novel construction employed by us in carrying out our invention is fully described and claimed in this specification'and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in Which Figure 1 is a side elevation of our device. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same in its contracted form. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of our last in its normal position. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of a modified form of our device.

Like numerals of reference designate like parts in the diiferent views of the drawings.

The numeral. 1 designates the central ball portion of our last. The ball-block 1 has an inclined face 2, provided with recesses 4, within which are seated coiled springs 5, which are rigidly secured. Firmly attached to the outer ends of the springs 5 is a toe-block 6, which is provided with recesses 7 to accommodate the springs 5. A space of about one-third of an inch intervenes between the face 2 and the block 6, which permits the contraction of the last, as will appear. The rear of the block 1 is cut away to form an inclined face 8.

Hinged to the rear of the block 1 by means of a pivoted tongue 10 is aheel-block 11. The tongue 10 fits a slot 12 in the block 1 and is pivoted on a pintle 13. The face 8 permits the swing of the block 11, and the lower edge 9 limits this movement. A chain 14 is attached at one end to the tongue 10 and passes over a roller 15, seated in a groove 16 in the block 1, then passes through an aperture in the block 1 and is connected at its other end to the block 6.

Mounted on the instep of the block 6 is a yoke 17, the side bars 17 a of which are driven into the block. A catch 18 is slidingly mounted on the yoke 1'7 and is provided with oppositely-extending arms 19, having hooked ends 20. This catch 18 serves to engage the eyelets to secure the top of the shoe. The yoke 17 gives latitude for the adjustment of the catch 18.

In putting our last into a shoe the toe-block 6 is first inserted and the heel-block 11 then pulled down into the position shown in Fig. 2. This action will pull the chain. 14 taut, bring the block 6 up into contact with the ball-block l, and thereby contract the last. The last can then be forced home and the heel-block 11 released, when the springs 5 will restore the toe-block 6 to its initial position. The catch 18 can then be engaged in two opposite eyelets and the top secured.

In the modifiedform illustrated in Fig. 4 a flexible rod 23 is employed instead of a chain.

The roller 15 is also dispensed with, and the rod bears on a point 24 on the block 1.

We do not wish to be limited as to details of construction, as these may be modified in many particulars without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, whatwe claim as new, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is-

1. In a last, the combination of a ball-block having a transverse aperture therein, a toe block yieldingly secured to said ball-block, a heel-block hinged to said ball-block, and a flexible member connected at one end to said heel-block, at the other end to said toe-block and passing through said transverse aperture, substantially as described.

2. In a last, the combination of a ball-block having a transverse aperture therein, a roller mounted in said aperture, a toe-block yieldingly connected to said ball-block, a heelblock hinged to said ball-block, and a flexible member connected to said toe-block and said heel-block and bearing on said roller, substantially as described. I

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN O. CALDWELL. WALTER L. DAMON. 

